The Texans interviewed former NFL GMs Ray Farmer and Martin Mayhew -- both of whom are black -- for their vacancy, and Fritz Pollard Alliance Exec Dir Rod Graves said that their interviews gave them the "impression that the process was not just for show," according to Jerome Solomon of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Graves said, "Both men felt like Houston did a thorough job with respect to their candidacy." Solomon writes the fact that the Texans appear to have "taken the interview process seriously is a good sign." The FPA is "wary of teams who might violate the spirit of the Rooney Rule by merely 'checking the box,' as in interviewing minority candidates just to say they were interviewed." Graves said, "I've not heard definitely -- and let me point out that we have been engaged with Houston since they announced that they were replacing the previous general manager -- that they have abandoned the process of replacing their general manager." He added, "But, if in fact they have, then it is a concern that two outstanding candidates, Martin Mayhew and Ray Farmer, were not part of their alternative plan" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/17).
